Hose coupling

Abstract

A hose coupling wherein the end portion of a pipe is sealingly but separably connected with the end portion of a deformable hose by a tubular connector which has a first section sealingly fitted into the end portion of the pipe and a second section preferably sealingly attached to the end portion of the hose. The second section can abut against the end face of the end portion of the hose or it can surround or extend into such end portion. The connector carries one or more pivotable latching devices with pallets which engage a portion of the external surface of the end portion of the pipe or portions of surfaces bounding openings in the end portion of the pipe. A sealing element in the form of an O-ring or a sleeve is inserted between the internal surface of the end portion of the pipe and the external surface of the respective section of the connector to ensure that the seal between the connector and the pipe remains intact even if one of these parts moves axially relative to the other part. The connector shares all axial movements of the end portion of the hose and is separably connected thereto by mechanical means or is permanently bonded to the hose. The pallet or pallets of the latching device or devices can pivot in planes which include the axis of the coupling.

I claim: 
     
       1. A coupling comprising a pipe having a first end portion and an external surface provided with a retaining portion; a hose having a second end portion and an external surface; a tubular connector having a first section surrounded by said first end portion and a second section in sealing engagement with said second end portion, said second section being arranged to share axial movements of said second end portion; a sealing element interposed between said first section and said first end portion to establish and maintain a fluidtight seal therebetween while permitting at least some axial movement of said first end portion and said first section relative to each other; and at least one latching device for releasably locking said connector to said pipe, said latching device being accessible for manipulation at the exterior of said end portions and including an elastic substantially web-like first portion integral with said connector, said latching device further including a second portion engageable with and disengageable from the retaining portion of said pipe in response to deformation of said first portion, and a third portion which is movable with reference to said connector to deform said first portion, said third portion being spaced apart from the external surface of said hose in the radial direction of the hose when said second portion engages the retaining portion of the pipe and said third portion being located radially outwardly of the second section of said connector, said second end portion being vulcanized to the second section of said connector adjacent the first portion of said latching device. 
     
     
       2. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the third portion of said latching device is inclined with reference to the axis of said connector and slopes outwardly and away from the first portion, at least while said second portion engages said retaining portion. 
     
     
       3. The coupling of claim 1, wherein said sealing element has at least one external sealing lip in sealing engagement with said first end portion. 
     
     
       4. The coupling of claim 1, wherein said sealing element is bonded to said connector. 
     
     
       5. The coupling of claim 1, wherein said second end portion surrounds the second section of said connector and said second section comprises a first annular external rib having a substantially frustoconical first flank diverging in a direction toward said first end portion and a substantially radially extending second flank facing said first end portion, said second section further having at least one additional annular external rib having a substantially frustoconical first flank diverging in a direction away from said first end portion and a substantially radially extending second flank facing away from said first end portion, said additional rib being disposed between said first rib and said first section and said ribs being surrounded by said second end portion. 
     
     
       6. The coupling of claim 5, wherein the maximum diameter of said first rib exceeds the maximum diameter of said additional rib. 
     
     
       7. The coupling of claim 5, further comprising at least one band-like clamp surrounding said second end portion radially outwardly of said additional rib to hold said second section against extraction from said second end portion. 
     
     
       8. The coupling of claim 7, wherein said clamp contains metal. 
     
     
       9. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the external surface of said pipe has an annular bead with a substantially frustoconical surface which tapers toward the axis of said pipe in a direction toward said second end portion and a substantially radial shoulder constituting or including said retaining portion. 
     
     
       10. The coupling of claim 9, wherein said first end portion has an end face adjacent said second end portion and said bead is adjacent said end face.